Combination door and panel



March 8, 1960 P. H. LAUER COMBINATION DOOR AND PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1957 INVENTOR. I PAUL H LAUER COMBINATION DOOR AND PANEL Paul H. Lauer, Akron, Ghio Application December 31, 1957, Serial No. 706,475

Claims. (Cl. 20--35) The invention relates in general toa combination door with panels and more particularly to a combination door with panels having the frames thereof made of resilient and bendable high impact rigid thermosetting plastic.

An object of the invention is to provide a combination door and panel construction wherein the frame is constructed of resilient and bendable high impact rigid thermosetting plastic. I 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination door and panel construction wherein the frame includes hollow rectangular thermosetting plastic side, top, bottom, and cross-piece members.

Another object of the invention is to provide the side, top and bottom members with beveled end portions, and the end portions secured together by anchor members to form four ninety degree corners.

Another object of the. invention is to provide the. side, top, bottom, and cross-piece members with a new and novel lip shoulder construction for holding the glassand screen panels within the door frame. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a door which is exceptionally durable, strong, and which is unafiected by cold and heat and which will'not burn and which will not chip, crack, pit, rust, rot or oxidize.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door. frame with fixedly bendable reinforcing means'to align the door against a door molding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door frame with fixedly bendable reinforcing means mounted with returnably bendable hollow means,' the fiXedlybend able reinforcing means overpoweringth'e' returnably bendable means to align the door against a door'xnolding.

Other objects and a better understanding-of the invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view of the door and panel of the present invention shown mounted within the framework of a conventional door molding;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the swingable side of the. door showing the door out of alignment with the door molding;

Figure 3 is a view taken along the section line 3 -3 of Figure 1;

' Figure 4 is a view taken along the section'line 4-.-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view taken along the section line 5---5- a view taken along the section line 7-! Figure is a planyiew showing the .bevelcdendsbi' a view taken along the section line 6+6.

a vien taken along thesection line 9-9' nited States Patent 6 2: the frame members and the ninety degree anchor members before assembly;

'Figure '11 is the same as Figure 7 but does not show a reinforcing means mounted within the hollow construction;

Figure 12 is the same as Figure 9 but does not show a reinforcing means mounted within the hollow constructlon;

Figure 13 is a view taken along the section line 1313 of Figure 1; and

Figure 14 is a view taken along the section line 14-14 of Figure 1.

The door 10 of the present invention includes a frame 14 within which are two panels 11 and 12, and a third panel 13 referred to as a kick panel. The panels 11 and 12 may be either constructed of glass or screen. In winter weather, the glass panels may be easily mounted in the door frame 14. In summer weather, the glass panels would be changed for screen panels which may also be easily mounted in the door frame 14. The kick panel 13 is made of durable structure glass and will not crack, chip, or mar under any physical or chemical conditions. The frame 14'is constructed of a firstv or hingeable-side member 15, a second or swingable side member 16, a top member 17, a bottom member 18, a first cross-piece member 19 intermediate the top member 17 and the bottom member 18,, and a second cross' piece member 20 intermediate the bottom member'18 and the first cross-piece member 19. The first sidemember 15 has hinges 21 and 22 attached thereon to fasten the door to a molding 25. The second side member 16 has a handle 23 attached thereon to facilitate the openingfand' closing of the door 10, Figures 1 and 2 bestjsho w the relative. location of the component parts of the door 10. with respect to each other and Figures 3 through 12, inclusive, illustrate each component part in more detail. With specific reference to Figures 3 through 12, inelusive, of the drawings, the members 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21) have front side walls 31, back side walls 32, an outer edge wall 33 and an inner edge wall 34. The front side wall 31 and the back side wall 32 each have first ends and 46 and second ends 47 and 48 see'particularly Figure 4. The outer edge wall 33 integrally connects the first end 45 of the front side wall 31 to the first end 46 of the back side wall 32. The inner edge wall 34 integrally connects the second end 47 of the 1 front side wall 31 to the second end'48 of the back side wall 32. The'side walls 31 and 32 and the edge walls 33 and 34 form a substantially hollow rectangular construction designed by the number 30. "The CQDS ruction 3Q 'is extruded from 'high temperature extruding machines and is made of high impact rigid thermosetting plastic. The plastic is resilient and upon being bent will return to its normal or original position. The side walls 31 and 32 and the edge walls 33 and 34 have an outer surface 35 and an inner surface 36. The outer surface 35 and the inner surface 36 define a wall section therebetween of substantially uniform thickness throughout. The inner edge wall 34 defines a lip shoulder 40. The lipshoulder 40 receives a panel frame 37 for either a screen or a glass. The panel frame 37 fits against the lip shoulder 40 and is held therein by a clip 38 and'a screw- 39. The lip shoulder 40 comprises a first wall portion 41 a second wall portion 42, and a'thir'd wall portion 43'. The first wall portion 41 of the lip shoulder 49 extends substantially perpendicular from the second end 48 of the back side wall 32. The first wallp'ortion 41 has a terminating end 50 intermediate thedistance of the back side wall 32 and the front side wall'31. The secondwallportion 42 of the lip shoulder 40' extends substantially perpendicular from the terminating end 50 of the first" wall portion 41 of the lip shoulder 40. The:

portion 42 and the inner surface 36 of the third wall portion'43 of the lip shoulder 49 join each other atthe terminating junction 51 and divergingly extend therefrom. The inner surfaces 36 of the second wall portion 42 and the third wall portion 43 of the lip shoulder 40 are spaced apart with respect to each other at the second end 47 of the front side wall 31 and at the terminating end 50 of the first wall portion 41 of the lip shoulder 40.

The first end 45 of the front side wall 31 and the first end 46 of the back side wall 32 have first and second projection portions 52 and 53, respectively, extending from the outer edge wall 35. The first and second projection portions 52 and 53 have terminating end edges 54 and 55, respectively, with the terminating end edges 54 and 55 having inturn flanges 56 and 57, respectively spaced apart and facing each other.

With specific reference to Figure 5 of the drawings,

the first cross-piece member, designated by 19, is substantially the same construction as the first and second side members 15 and 16, except that the outer edge wall 33 of the hollow construction 30 has a projection 49 which in combination with the lip shoulder 40 defines a channel to receive a panel frame 37. The second cross-pi ce member is not shown in detail, but likewise has su stantially the same construction as Figure 5.

Figure 3 of the drawing shows the method that the ends 70 of the first cross-piece member 19 and the second cross-piece member 20 are fastened to the first side member 15 and the second side member 16. The inner and outer edge walls 33 and 34 of the first and second side members 15 and 16 have apertures 59. The outer and inner edge walls 33 and 34 of the first and second crosspiece members 19 and 20 also have apertures 60. A screw 61, having a head 62 to abut against the outer edge wall 33 of the first and second side members 15 and 16 and alsohaving a threaded end 63, passes through the aperture 59 of the outer and inner edge walls 33 and 34 of the first and second side members 15 and 16. A cylindrical metal cross-piece 64 having a threaded aperture 65 fits in the aperture 60 of the outer and inner edge wall 33 and 34 of the first and second cross-piece members 19 and 20. The aperture 65 is in alignment with the screw 61. The threaded end 63 of the. screw 61 engages the threaded aperture 65 of the cylindrical cross-piece 64 to fasten the ends 70 of the first and second cross-piece members 19 and 20 securely against the first and second side members 15 and 16..

The first side member 15 has end portions 72, the second side member 16 has end portions 73, the top member 17 has end portions 74, and the bottom member 18 has end portions 75; Figure 10 of the drawings shows the bottom member 18 and the second side member 16 before assembly. Although Figure 10 illustrates a specific corner of the door 10, the other three corners of the door 10 are substantially the same in construction. The end portions 73 andv 75 of the members 16 and '18 are beveled at substantially forty-five degrees. The end portions 73 and 75 interfit with each other and form a substantially ninety degree corner. The outer edge wall 33 of the end portions 73 and 75 of the members 16 and the anchor member 77 within the right angle corners. Adhesive means 85 is applied to the anchor members 77. The adhesive means 85 contacts the inner surface 36 of the corners of the door 10 and hardens to form a moisture-tight seal. The hardened adhesive means 85 prevents moisture seepage through the door frame 14.

Residing against the inner surface 36 of the hollow construction 30 of the first and second side members 15 and 16 and the top member 17 is a first reinforcing means 80, a second reinforcing meansSl, and a third reinforcing means 82, respectively. The reinforcing'means 80, 81 and 82 are fastened to the inner surface 36 of the hollow construction 30 by adhesive means 85. The adhesive means 85 is applied to the reinforcing means 80, 81 and 82 before the reinforcing means is inserted into the hollow construction 30. The adhesive means 85 contacts the inner surface 36 of the hollow construction 30 and hardens to form a moisture-tight seal. The reinforcing means 80, 81 and 82 is preferably constructed of aluminum, but it is understood that any type of fixedly bendable material may be 'used; The door herein described constitutes three separate reinforcing means, but the door 10 may be constructed with the reinforcing means omitted from the top member 17, see Figure 11, leaving reinforcing means in only the two side members 15 and 16, or with .the reinforcing means omitted from the second side member and top member 16 and 17 leaving reinforcing means in only the first side member 15. Figure 12 shows the second side member 16 with no reinforcing means.

The first reinforcing means 80 is used for fastening the hinges 21 and 22 to the first side member 15. The hinges 21' and 22 are fastened to the member 15 by threaded means 105 that engage the reinforcing'means 80.

The third reinforcing means 82 is used for fastening the handle 23 to the second side member 16 by threaded means 106.

For the purpose of clarity, the term fixedly bendable is used herein to express the idea that once an object is bent by an outside force, that object retains thebent position. The term returnably bendable is used herein to express the idea that once an' object is bent by an outside force, that'o-bject returns to the original position or to the position it had before being bent.- Figure 2 of the drawings illustrates an edge of the second or swingable side member 16 of the door 10. Line 27 is an imaginary line and represents a warped or inclined door molding 25. The door 10, as manufactured is not warped but is true with the frame members lying in a' true plane. When the'true door is mounted in a warped or crooked molding, the true door will depart from the molding, as illustrated by the imaginary line 27. The door frame 14 because of its bendable properties may be made, by applying an outside force, to fit snugly against'the warped or crooked door molding 25. The bending of the door bends both the reinforcing means as well as the plastic frame members. remain fixedly bent, and they have sufiicient strength to overpower the bending properties of the plastic frame members and thus hold the plastic members of the door against the door molding. In other words, a true door may be bent to fit an untrue molding with'the present invention. 7

The first, second, and third reinforcing means,v 80, 81 and 82 are fixedly bendable and thereby they fixedly hold the first and secondside memberslS and 16 and the top member 17 from bendably returning to their original position. property of being fixedly bendable allows the door frame to align against an offset or crooked door apertures 78 of the anchor member 77 to securely fasten molding. v I

Preferably the bottom member 18 does not contain reinforcing means, although it may be. reinforced. Without a reinforcing means, the bottom member 18 is therefore returnably bendable to provide a wide range of flexibility to the door frame 14. The door of the present inventioncan withstand a great deal of whipping.

The bendable reinforcing means after once bent The bottom edge of the-bottom member has anaadjustable cross-member 262whih may beadjusted" to'fit the bottom of the floor beneath the door. Th'ebottom: edge of the cross-member 26 may be fitted with arubber lip 34 to seal the door at the floor level.

The door 10, herein described, has'a greateramount of flexibility than an ordinary wood or aluminum door. An aluminum door, for example, hinged to amolding and with the top member of the aluminumdoor held by an outside force to the molding, the bottom corner opposite the hinged side of the door could then-be pulled. out by an outside force only two to three inches from the door molding 25. This is due to the aluminum door having very little flexibility. Ifthecloorlfiofithe presentinvention were placed in the same position and the same outside forces were applied as in the aluminum door, the bottom corner opposite the hinged member could be pulled out as much as nine to twelve inches, or more, from the door molding 25. This extreme flexibility of the door 10 is essential in doors that are roughly used and banged d against the door molding to a great extent. Without this flexibility, the door would eventually crack along the corners nearest to the hinged member 15.

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangements of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope f the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door frame having panel means, said door frame having members, one of said members having hingeable means, another of said members being swingable against a door molding, said members having side walls interconnected by inner and outer edge walls, said walls having inner and outer surfaces, said walls forming a substantially hollow rectangular construction, said construction being resilient and comprising high impact rigid thermosetting plastic, said hollow construction being returnably bendable to an original position, said members having end portions beveled at substantially forty-five degrees, said end portions interfitting with one another to form four substantially ninety degree corners, said inner edge wall having lip shoulder means, reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said members, said reinforcing means allowing said members to be fixedly bendable and thereby fixedly holding said members from bendably returning to their original position to align said frame against said door molding, said panel means having edges interfitting against said lip shoulder means.

2. In a door frame having panel means, said door frame having first and second side members and top and bottom members, said first side member having hingeable means, said second side member being swingable against a door molding, said first and second side and top and bottom members having side walls interconnected by inner and outer edge walls, said Walls having inner and outer surfaces, said walls forming a substantially hollow rectangular construction, said construction being resilient and comprising high impact rigid thermosetting plastic, said hollow construction being returnably bendable to an original position, said members having end portions beveled at substantially forty-five degrees, said end portions interfitting with one another to form four substantially ninety degree corners, said inner edge wall having lip shoulder means, reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said first and second side and top members only, said reinforcing means allowing said first and second side and top members to be fixedly bendable and thereby fixedly holding said first and second side members and said top member from bendably returning to their original position to align said frame against said door molding, said bottom member being I returnably bendableto providea wide range of flexibility to saiddoor frame; said panel means having edges interr'itting against said lipshoulder-means.

3-. In a door frame having panel means, said door frame having first and second side-members and top and bottom members, said first side member having hingeable means, said second side member'being-swingable against a door molding, said firstand secondside and top and bottom members having side walls interconnectedby inner and outer edge walls, said walls having inner and outer surfaces, said Walls forming -'a substantially hollow rectangular construction, said constructionbeing resilient and comprising high impact rigid thermosetting plastic, said hollowconstruction being'returnably bendable to an-originalposition, said members having endportions beveled at substantially forty-five degrees, said end portions interfitting with one another to form four substantially ninety degree corners, said inner edge wall having lip shoulder means, reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said first side member, threaded elements extending through said hollow construction and engaging said first reinforcing means to securely fasten said hingeable means to said first member, said reinforcing means being fixedly bendable and thereby fixedly holding said first side member from bendably returning to its original position to align said frame against said door molding, said panel means having edges interfitting against said lip shoulder means.

4. In a door frame having panel means, said door frame having first and second side members and top and bottom members, said first side member having hingeable means, said second side members having handle means and being swingable against a door molding, said first and second side and top and bottom members having side walls interconnected by inner and outer edge walls, said walls having inner and outer surfaces, said walls forming a substantially hollow rectangular construction, said construction being resilient and comprising high impact rigid thermosetting plastic, said hollow construction being returnably bendable to an original position, said members having end portions beveled at substantially forty-five degrees, said end portions interfitting with one another to form four substantially ninety degree corners, said inner edge wall having lip shoulder means, reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said first and second side members only, threaded elements extending through said hollow construction of said second side members and engaging said reinforcing means therein to securely fasten said handle means to said second member, said reinforcing means of said first and second members being fixedly bendable and thereby fixedly holding said first and second side members from bendably returning to their original position to align said frame against a door molding to provide a wide range of flexibility to said door frame, said panel means having edges interfitting against said lip shoulder means.

In a door frame having panel means, said door frame having first and second side members and top and bottom members, said first side member having hingeable means, said second side member having handle means and being swingable against a door molding, said first and second side and top and bottom members having side walls interconnected by inner and outer edge walls, said walls having inner and outer surfaces, said walls formin a substantially hollow rectangular construction, said construction being resilient and comprising high impact rigid thermosetting plastic, said hollow construction being returnably bendable to an original position, said members having end portions beveled at substantially forty-five degrees, said end portions interfitting with one another to form four substantially ninety degree corners, said inner edge wall having lip shoulder means, first reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said first side member, threaded elements, extending through said hollow construction and engaging said first reinforcing means to securely fasten saidhingeable means to said first memher, second reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said top member, adhesive means for connecting said reinforcing means to said top member, third reinforcing means residing against said inner surface of said hollow construction of said second side member, threaded elements extending through said hollow construction and engaging said third reinforcing means to securely fasten said handle means to said second side member, said first, second and third reinforcing means being fixedly bendable and thereby fixedly holding said first and second side members and 15 2,818,145

said top member from bendably returning to their original position to align saidframe against said door molding, said bottom member being unreinforced and returnably bendable to provide a wide range of flexibility to said door frame, said panel means having edges interfitting against said lip shoulder.

, References Cited in the filetof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,506,978 Unterberger May 9, 1950 2,679,665 Beard June 1, 1954 2,815,808 Eckel Dec. 10, 1957 Bragman et a1 Dec. 31, 1957 Davidson Mar. '10, 1936 

